- 1). Plant oak leaf hydrangeas where they will not be in standing water; always provide excellent drainage or their roots will rot. For especially heavy or poor draining soil the addition of compost, bark mulch and even small stones can aid in proper drainage.
- 2). Avoid planting oak leaf hydrangeas beneath trees or right next to houses or other structures. The plants get large and the constant pruning to keep them of manageable size can hinder their ability to bloom. When planted under a tree they may not get the moisture required in order to thrive.
- 3). Pot young oak leaf hydrangeas in a well draining potting soil for use on your deck or patio; plant them in the ground when they become too large for their pots. Potted hydrangeas will require more frequent watering than those in the ground will so a small amount of silica crystals can be helpful in keeping them from drying out.
- 4). Add the manufacturer's recommended amount of slow-release fertilizer. Hydrangeas are heavy feeders and appreciate a source of food that is not easily depleted. Water the hydrangea well. Top the soil off with 3 to 4 inches of bark mulch.
- 5). Prune oak leaf hydrangeas in the summer after blooming. Do this before August so the chances of removing next year's flower buds are diminished. Remove dead or damaged limbs as soon as they are discovered throughout the year.
- 6). Prune 1/3 of the limbs on 5-year-old oak leaf hydrangeas back level to the ground in the summer. This method is recommended to reestablish vigor and proper blooming.
- 7). Clip off any fading blooms throughout the blooming season. The flowers may be dried for decoration or added to the compost heap.
- 8). Check for pests such as aphids, whiteflies and slugs every month or so. If they are discovered on the hydrangea, use an organic insecticidal soap to kill them. Slugs can be baited with stale beer set out in shallow containers beneath the hydrangeas.
- 9). Treat any diseases as soon as discovered. Typical ailments to check for are powdery mildew, anthracnose, armillaria root rot, blight and Phytophthora root rot. Treatment for these diseases can include thiophanate-methyl, parafinnic oil, azoxystrobin and fenarimol.
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Fence around young plants to prevent people from walking on them. A simple fence can be purchased online that can be assembled by most people in a day. This type of portable poultry netting can be easily disassembled and stored for future use.
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